Condenser



Fb. Iii, 1928.

fOOGOOOOOOOOOQDQOQUO000000000000090 C. W. E. CLARKE CONDENSER Filed March 17, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l/E/v TQ R s M am ATTQRNEY Patented Feb. `14, 1928.

lPATENT OFFICE.

' CHARLES W. E. CLARKE, oFNnW Yoan, N. Y.

c coNnENsnn.

Y Application led March-17, 1923. Serial No. 625,844.

This invention relates to condensers of the surface type, and `it has for its chief object to improve such condensers with a view to facilitating the cleaning operation. The invention aims to facilitate both the cleaning of the tubes and also the cleaning of the water spaces in the condenser.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the,ap pended claims. i

In the drawings, y y

Figure 1 is a view, partly in vertical cross section, and partly in side elevation, of a condenser constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of thecondenser shown in Fig. 1,\a Vportion of the casing being broken away to show parts contained therein;

Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview ofthe spray pipe or'nozzle; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4 4, Figs. i

The condenser shown comprises a front tube head 2, a rear tube head 3, and a series of tubes 4i, only a few of which are shown in Fig. 1, supported in said heads.` The tubes are enclosed in a casing 5 towhich the steam to be condensed is admitted and from which the condensate is withdrawn by suitable connections. A water box head 6 is spaced from the front head 2 and cooperates with casing members to form a water space 7 at the front end of the condenser. other head 8 at.the rear of the condenser cooperates with the tube head 3 to form a ing fluid which is conducted to the `spray nozwater space 9 at this end'of the apparatus.l Access to the water spaces'is afforded by the apparatusof the condenser shown, however,

dier radically from prior constructions. In the arrangement shown, the tube sheet 2 is divided into four sections or quadrants, as best shown in Fig. 2, and each section is pro-` vided with its own cleaning apparatus. This apparatus for the upper rightdiand section, Fig. 2, comprises a spray pipe or noz- Zle 16 which consists of a hollow arm preferablywelded on the inner end vof a pipe 17 Fig. 1, that projects through a stuffing box 18 in the water box head 6. `The latter pipe is connected at its outer end through suitable fittings and a flexible pipe 19 with a source of steam under pressure, or with any other suitable source of cleaning fluid. A hand wheel 20 is secured to the pipe 17 outside the casing to enable the operative to turn the pipe 17 and the spray pipe 16 about the axis of thepipe 17. The outer end of the spray pipe 16 is equipped with a roll 22 which travels in a track or groove formed in a part 23 secured fast to the con-` denser casing.` These parts support and 75 guide the outer end of the spray pipe. y

Formed in the face .of the spray pipe adjacent to the tube head 2 is a series of discharge openings 24, Figs. 2 and 3. These discharge openings may be simply holes of suitable shape drilled through the front wall of' the pipe, but preferably they consist of nozzles, such as that indicated at 25, Fig. 4, set into this wall. The steam or other clea`n zl'eis discharged at a high velocity through the openings 24, and it is the action of these streams` travelling through the tubes 4 which cleans the tubes. In condensers as heretofore constructed, a spraying device of some type has been mounted in the water box head so that it could be moved around to direct a stream through the tubes. The movement of this device, however, has been entirely under the control of the operator, the device being mounted for a more or less limited unive-rsa1 movement. The effectiveness of the cleaning operation, therefore, has

A been entirely within the care and discretion of the operator, and he has had no way of determining whether all the tubes were cleaned or not Without opening the condenser head and making an inspection. Ac-

cording to the vpresent invention, the tubes yaway from the tube head due to back. pressure.

Y Referring more yparticularly to Fie'. 2, it

will be seen that the spray'pipe 16 is mounted to swing through Van angle of approximately 90 andy that'the tubes 4 are spaced *along the arcs or pathsoff travel of the discharge openings 24. Each tube, ther-ettore, is directly in theline ofthe stream discharged from one of said openings 24 in some position ot the spray pipe. rihis arrangement thus completely overcomes the hit or miss cleaning which has characterized prior installations, since, as the pipe 16 is swung slowly over the tube head 2, the discharge openings come successively into direct register withthe tube ends and each tube, consequently, must be subjected tothe cleaning action ot a stream of steam or other iiuid discharged from one of the openings 24.

The same cleaning arrangement is provided for each of the other three sections of the condenser, the pipes corresponding to the pipe 17 being shown in Fig. 2 at 27, 28and 29, respectively. The spray pipes are installed permanently in the condenser, as dis-` tinguished Jfrom being removable, as in the usual cleaning apparatus.

For the purpose ot equalizing the pressure Within the spray pipe, it is provided near*V its axis with defiecting ribs or baille plates 8O y andl, Fig. s, which direct the greater part of the incoming stream of steam upwardly into ther nozzle and thus produces a more uniform flow through the various discharge openings than otherwise Would be obtained.L

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that pipes 33 and Stlead from the bottom oi' the waterbox space at opposite sides of the vertical partition therein and are connected througha pipe 'with the intake end of a centrifugal pump 36. 1When the condenser is to be cleaned the valves in these pipes and 34 are opened before the water inlet valve is closed. Such dbris as is brought down trom the head or is lying in the bottom oic the waterbox space is thenfpumped overboard-by the pump 36. 'This permits the pumping out of practically all the water in the waterbox space so that when the hand hole covers or doors are subsequently opened. the water will not run out on the floor and make a disagreeable mess. rlhis arrangement is further advantageous in that it per-``r mits the scraping ott of the debris that ac cumulatesy ony thecondenser tube head, the material so removed dropping into the bottom of thewaterbox wl'iere itcan be hushed out andpinnped overboard'pmstead of being the best embodiment of my inventionwhich` I have'so ktar devised, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limitedto embodiinentin the particular formsho-Wn;

. l-laving thus described my' invention, what I desire `to claim as new is :v Y r f Y l.. In an apparatus of the character de `scribed,the combination of a condenserhawy ing aftube head and a series ot tubes mounted in said head, said headbeing divided into quadrants, a spray'pipefor each quadrant,

and means for supporting each of said pipes 'for pivotal movement across the face of said tubehead closely adjacent thereto and about an' axis located adjacent tothe center of said` hea d, each spray pipe having a series of discharge openings in the side thereof adjacent to said head and the ends of said tubes in each quadrant beingloeated at points spaced a-long'the paths of `'movements of said dis?1 charge openings, whereby the streams discharged rrom said openings will be directed into the ends of said tubes as the spray pipe is moved across the vtube head.

y2. A spray pipe for' condensers comprising a hollow arm having a series of discharge openings `formed in one side thereof, a lateral inlet openinglocated at one end of said arm for the admission of cleaning iiuid, and deflecting ribs within said arm adjacent to said opening for diverting.;V the greater part of the incoming stream of luid'toward discharge openings located remotely from said inlet. Y

3. In an apparatuso the character described, the combination of a` condenser having a tube head and a series oiitubesmounted in said head, a spray pipe mounted for pivotal movement across the face of said tube head closely adjacent thereto, means for supporting said pipe,said spray pipe having a series oi" discharge openings in they side thereotadjacent to said tube head for directing streams ot' iiuid into said tubes, and means cooperating withthe outer end of said spray pipe to support it against movement away from said tube head. Y f

t. In an apparatus of the character` described, the combination of a condenser havingay tube head and a series of tubes mounted in said head, said head being divided into sections, a spray pipe for each section, means Jfor supporting each of said spray pipes for pivotal movement across theface of its re# speotive section of said tube head and closely adjacent thereto, each spray pipe consisting of a hollow arm having a series of dischar e openings in the side thereof adjacent to said head and the ends of said tubes in each of said sections being located at points spaced along the arcs of movement of said discharge openings, whereby the streams discharged 

